"39H OP Tank for 21.P.D." Topic

I've got two of these in the works, one for me and one for a buddy across the pond… but as one DOES have to go across the pond, I'm getting that one done first. Anyway – for your viewing pleasure, the "in progress" 39H OP conversion… I still need to add some of the final stowage and the machine gun into the mount and it'll be ready to go.

I started with a 1/35th scale kit and plans of the beast. I then rendered 1/100th scale templates for all of the major armor plates (sides, top, front, engine deck, and rear) as well as some of the detail parts (machine gun shield and engine hatches). I cut the plates and assembled the styrene superstructure. I then carved down the original Hotchkiss miniature to accept the new upper hull. All stowage on the fenders was removed as it isn't in the same place on the 39H. I cast stowage and the driver's view hatch. Most of the remaining details are styrene strip carved and cut to the appropriate shape. The real hard part was the engine gratings which required scoring the grate in one piece of styrene then adding the framework. The exhaust is a mix of copper wire and aluminum tubing. The Battlefront 39H tank is a really nice miniature, and that helped on the conversion.

View of the side:

View of the other side:

Front view:

Rear view:

Seriously very awesome. It'll look great with Dale's paint job applied!

Yeah – apparently Dale's got it close to done – can't wait to see it. Mine isn't quite finished yet as I've been trying to get some EW and MW stuff done (unsuccessfully). My desert Panzer IV F2's are a hopeless mess at this point. My standard painting method isn't working – I think I've gotten a hold of a bad batch of Testors Acryl Sandgelb paint… :(

Would you be interested in selling a copy of the plans/drawings for the conversion portion of the model?

I'm actually going to try and cast up a few conversion kits. I'd have to neaten up the plans (a LOT) to get them salable, and then it would depend greatly on the plastic thickness used, etc.

Please keep us posted. I would be interested in buying the kit when you finalize it.

We've got a local "Becker Conversion" nutt in our gaming group who will be keen to get a hold of these when you do make them available fingolfen.

Will do – I'm going to finish up mine then try and run a castable one…

that looks seriously awesome great work

I can't see the photos here from work, but I'm looking forward to seeing them.

But, er, you do realise that Old Glory already do it, do you? :o)

link

But, er, you do realise that Old Glory already do it, do you? :o)

Didn't want to tell him that, anyway he only needs 2 and you have to buy a pack of 3 from OG. Shame that Skytrex don't do these as well. Had a bit of discussion with Geoff at QRF about doing one too, he seemed quite keen. Judging by some of their recent releases it would not surprise me if FiB started doing some 21. PD stuff.

Actually I only need one and as the Old Glory site didn't have pix, I couldn't validate the quality of the sculpt – you got pix of OG sculpt?

… also, given the rest of my miniatures in this particular army are Battlefront, this one will scale nicely. I had problems with different manufacturers looking "wrong" when placed together.

I don't sorry. It's on my 'to get' list, though.

Yes, I agree that having to buy big packs is a pain. I only want two of the things at the very most. I'll probably give the third one away to the first person I see with a Hotchkiss StuG battery needing a command vehicle!

Looks amazing,detail is just stunning

Very true about the lack of pic from OG (although I think it was pictured in the TMP news item when released but can't seem to go back that far), other models in the range are shown though including the Hotchkiss SP's and they all look a bit rough in the pics IMHO. I would expect this to be the same as the rest, hence my interest in getting QRF to do one. Plan to get my 21. Panzer stuff from QRF so understand your desire to have them fit in. Your conversion is looking very good by the way.